Presser attachment for shirt folding machines



Oct. 6, 1959 Filed April 9,

w. w. FRosT 2,907,503

PRESSER ATTACHMENT FOR SHIRT FOLDING MACHINES 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 542 05 M12 0?! BY Qohwv M ATTORNEY w. w. FROST PRESSER ATTACHMENT FOR SHIRT FOLDING MACHINES Filed April 9, 195a Oct. 6, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY nited States Patent 2,907,503 I PRESSER ATTACHMENT FOR SHIRT FOLDING t MACHINES Wade W. Frost, Ailey, Ga., assignor to David A. Freeman, Chicago, Ill. Application April 9, 1958, Serial No. 727,443

6 Claims. (Cl. 223-511) p This invention relates to shirt folding machines and has more particular reference to a presser attachment for use with such machines for pressing the back outer side of the shirt collar during the collarforming process.

construction permits placing the shirt face down on the support with the collar encircling the contracted. collar,

forming blocks, then the blocks are expanded to engage the inner surface of the collar and are heated to form the collar. After the shirt has been. properly folded, the heat is turned 01f, the collar forming blocks are contracted, and the finished shirt is removed from the table. In such apparatus, no provision is made for pressing the outer back side of the collar, which sometimes wrinkles during the collar forming process, and

sometimes the collar slips oi the blocks during the shirt a folding process.

One object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved presser attachment for shirt folding machines of the above type, which provides means for pressing the outer back side of the collar while 'engaged by the expanded collar forming blocks of the apparatus to press the fullness out of the collar, give an even crease around the collar, and prevent the collar from slipping off the blocks during the shirt folding process. I

Another object of the present invention is to provide a presser attachment, as characterized above,'in which a heated presser member is resiliently held against the back of the shirt collar during the collar forming process and is removed therefrom upon the completion of the collar forming process.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a presser attachment, as characterized above, wherein pneumatic means adapted to be connected to the pneumatic means for controlling the operation of the collar forming blocks are provided for controlling the operation of the heated presser member.

, A further object of the present invention is to provide an attachment for use with shirt folding and collar forming apparatus which is simple and economical in construction, eflicient in operation, and readily adapted to be mounted on the usual commercial shirt folding and collar forming apparatus used in modern commercial laundries.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will" appear in the following specification when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a, perspective view showing a shirt folding 17 and 18. i

side of a support plate 25;a coil spring 26 mounted on the 1 rod 22 between bearing member 24 and a square nut 27 adjustably mountedon the rod 22 for adjusting the ten pressing device 29 adjustably mounted on the inner end;

Patented Oct. 6, I959 and collar forming machine having an attachment for pressing the outer back side of the collar, constructed in accordance with: the present invention, amounted thereon; a g 7 a Fig. 2 is aplan view ofthe attachment shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and, I Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan ViCW Of the collar forming blocks shown in Fig. 1, and showing the manner in which the presser' attachment of the cooperates therewith.

The present invention provides a novel and improvedpresser attachment-for; shirt folding, and collar forming, machines and, in general, comprises a heatablel presser member mounted on a supporting bracket adapted to be mounted on the shirt folding machine adjacent the collar forming blocks thereon, resilient means for moving .the presser member into, engagement with the outer back side of a shirt collar when mounted on the collar forming blocks of the shirtfolding machine, and pneumatic means for normally holding the presser member inin operative position.

Referring now tofthe drawings, there is illustrated in Fig. 1, a shirt folding machine, indicated generally at 10,.having a presser attachment, indicated. generally at 11, and constructed in accordancewith the present invention, mounted thereon.

The shirt folding machine 11 may be of any suitable commercial type and, as shown, comprises a table or supporting member lzhaving a generally flat shirt supporting surface .131in which a well-like collar receiving.

recess 14 isformed adjacent one end; and a collar forming device, indicated generally at 15, mounted inthe recess. T y s t I The collar forming device-2'15 may be of any suitable construction. Preferably, and as shown, it is of the general type such asnshownin US. Patent No. 2,768,- 774, and comprises a fixed collar forming block 16 and two expansible and the table and connected to the valve, controls the ad- 1 mission of compressed air toand from the cylinder. Compressed air for operating the cylinder is supplied through a conduit 20 connected to the control valve and a suitable supply of compressed air. The collar forming blocks 16, 17 and 18 are heated electrically and the current to the blocks is controlled as by means of a selective heat control switch 21 mounted on the table adjacent the collar receiving opening.

The pressing attachment, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, comprises an elongated rod 22 mounted for sliding reciprocatory movement in a pair of spaced bearing members Hand 24, suitably secured, as by welding, to one sion of thecoil spring; a heating member 28 carrying a present; invention contractible collar forming blocks of the rod 22; an air cylinder 30 mounted'on the side of the support plate 25 opposite the rod 22 and having an extended piston stem 31 projecting from its rear end and engaging a stop member 32 adjustably. mounted on the outerend portion of the rod 22; a flexible conduit 33 havingone end connected-tea control valve 34 mounted gated-flat strip. of metal 38, preferably aluminum, and is secured asby screws, to a short metal strip 39 welded onto the heating elements 28'.

The heating and presser devices are mounted on. the inner end of the rod '22. for angular adjustment, as by means of a -shaped clamp40 having its bight 41 fixedly the heating element 28'. The jaws are. held in tight clamping engagement with: the heating element as by means of a bolt 44 extending through both jaws. .By ad justing the nut 45 on one end of the bolt 44, theheating element can beangularly adjusted with respect to the longitudinal center line of the heating element so that the *device may be used with .various types of collar forming blocks.

The compressed air cylinder 30 is removably mounted on the support plate 25 asby means of bolts 46' passing through spacing blocks 47' and fastened in laterally extending ears-48 carried by a strap .49 extending partially wires 37 of the heating member'28 are connected to the selective control switch 21 onthe shirt folding machine.

When the attachment is thus mounted, no additional to hold thecollar forming blocks in contracted position,

compressed air will be admitted to thecompressed air cylinder of the attachment to hold the presser member 38 in retracted position, and when the lever 19 is turned to exhaust air from the compressed air cylinder of the machine to permit the spring operated means to expand the collar forming blocks, compressed air will be exhausted from the compressed air cylinder 39 of the attachment to permit spring 26 to move the rod 22 to bring the presser member 38 into engagement with the outer back side of the collar'on the collar forming blocks. In like manner, when the machine operates to turn the selective electric switch 21 to heat the collar forming blocks, the heating element 36 in the heating member 28 of the attachment will be heated.

' secured to the inner end of the rod 22, and with. its jaws 42, 43 extending over and engagingthe outer surface of While the pressing attachment has been described as employedwith a shirt folding machine inwhich the collar formers are normally held in contracted position by com: pressed air devices, obviously, the attachment is equally adapted for use with shirt folding machines in which the collar formers are moved to contracted position and ex-.

panded position by mechanical means such as shown in Patent No. 2,768,774, in which case the flexible conduit for supplyingand exhausting compressed air to. the air cylinder 30 of the attachment would be connected to a two-way control valve for controlling the operation, and, I

- while the heating member 28 has been shown as being around the cylinder and fixedly secured thereto as by;

welding.

The square nut 27 is slidably adjustably mounted on the rod 22 and is held in adjusted. position thereon as by meansof a set screw. In addition to providing means for adjusting the tension of the spring 26', the square nut, by engagement with the supportplate 25, prevents any rotation of the rod'22.

The control valve 34, which may be of any suitabl usual type, controls the rate of how ofcompressed airto and from the compressed air cylinder, thereby giving control of the rate of reciprocating movement of the rod 22; The attaching plate 35 provides means forremovably securing the attachment to the shirt folding machine so that the rod 22 will be positioned to move the presser bar 38*into and out of engagement with: the outer back side of a shirt collarwhen the; shirt isplaced on the folding machine with the collar encompassingpthe collar forming. blocks (see Figs. 1 and 5);.

From the foregoing, the operation of the pressing attachment is'believed apparent. When employed: with a shirt folding machine of the type shown in Fig. 1, the mounting plate 55 of the attachment is bolted to the table of the machine adjacent the collar forming blocks, in position for the reciprocating rod 22 to move the presser bar 38into and. out of engagement with the outer back side of a collar mounted on the collar forming blocks. When compressed air isadmitted' to the cylinder 30, the piston stern engaging the stop-member 32 on therod 22 will move the rod in a directionto retract the pressing device .29 on its inner end, thereby contracting the coil spring 26. When compressed air is exhausted from the cylinder 34), the spring 26 will move the rod 22 1 in a directionto bring the pressing device29 into pressing forming blocks in contracted position, and. the electric heated electrically, obviously, it could be heated by any other suitable means.

' From theiforegoing, it readily will be seen that there has been provided a novel and improved presser attachment for a shirt folding machine of the type provided with Obviously, the invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment thereof herein shown and described. What is claimed is: a 1. A collar back pressing mechanism for cooperative assembly with a collar molding and shaping device havingaaplurality of molding and shaping blocks therein mounted for movement toward and away from each other between contracted and expanded positions to engage,

ingdevice, a slidably mounted member having an end thereof secured to said collar back pressing plate and carrying the same for reciprocating movement toward and away from the molding and shaping blocks in the collar molding and shaping device, and fluid pressure actuated mechanism connected to said slidably mountedmember to move the same with said collar back press-.

ing plate toward and away from the molding and shaping blocks in apath to which the paths of movement of 'said molding and shaping blocks are symmetrical.

I 2. A collar back pressing mechanism for cooperative assembly with a .collar molding and shaping device having a pluralityfof molding and shaping blocks therein.

mounted for movement toward and away from each other between contracted and expanded positions to engagethe inner surface of a garment collar to mold and shape the same, comprising a collar back pressing plate dimensioned and configurated to press the back outer portion of a garment collar on the collar molding and shaping device, a slidably mounted member having an end thereof secured to said collar back pressing plate and carrying the same for reciprocating movement toward and away from the molding and shaping blocks in the collar molding and shaping device, selectively operable and controllable fluid pressure actuated mechanism connected to said slidably mounted member, and control means to control fluid pressure flow to said fluid pressure actuated mechanism to selectively permit said mechanism to move the slidably mounted member with said collar back pressing plate toward and away from the molding and shaping blocks in a path to which the paths of movement of said molding and shaping blocks are symmetrical.

3. A collar back pressing mechanism for cooperative assembly with a collar molding and shaping device having a plurality of molding and shaping blocks therein mounted for movement toward and away from each other between contracted and expanded positions to engage the inner surface of a garment collar to mold and shape the same, comprising a collar back pressing plate dimensioned and configurated to press the back outer portion of a garment collar on the collar molding and shaping device, a slidably mounted member having an end thereof secured to said collar back pressing plate and carrying the same for reciprocating movement toward and away from the molding and shaping blocks in the collar molding and shaping device, a fluid pressure actuated mechanism connected to said slidably mounted member, and means to interconnect said fluid pressure actuated mechanism and said collar molding and shaping device whereby said fluid pressure actuated mechanism is efiective to move said slidably mounted member with said collar back pressing plate thereon toward and away from the molding and shaping blocks in coordination with movement of said molding and shaping blocks and in a path to which the paths of movement of said molding and shaping blocks are symmetrical.

4. A collar back pressing mechanism for cooperative assembly with a collar molding and shaping device having a plurality of molding and shaping blocks therein mounted for movement toward and away from each other between contracted and expanded positions to engage the inner surface of a garment collar to mold and shape the same, comprising a collar back pressing plate dimensioned and configurated to press the back outer portion of a garment collar on the collar molding and shaping device, heater means secured to said collar back pressing plate, a slidably mounted member having an end thereof secured to said collar back pressing plate and carrying the same for reciprocating movement toward and away from the molding and shaping blocks in the collar molding and shaping device, a fluid pressure actuated mechanism connected to said slidably mounted member, and means to interconnect said fluid pressure actuated mechanism and said collar molding and shaping device whereby said fluid pressure actuated mechanism is.

effective to move said slidably mounted member with said collar back pressing plate thereon toward and away from the molding and shaping blocks in coordination with 6 movement of said molding and shaping blocks and in a path to which the paths of movement of said molding and shaping blocks are symmetrical.

5. A collar back pressing mechanism for cooperative assembly with a collar molding and shaping device having a plurality of molding and shaping blocks therein mounted for movement toward and away from each other between contracted andexpanded positions to engage the inner surface of a garment collar to mold and shape the same, comprising a mounting bracket, a pair of bearings secured to said mounting bracket and having aligned apertures therethrongh, a slide rod mounted in said bearing members for reciprocable movement therein toward and away from the collar molding and shaping device in a path to which the paths of movement of the molding and shaping blocks in said molding and shaping device are symmetrical, a collar back pressing plate mounted on an end of said slide rod at the end thereof adjacent to said collar molding and shaping device, a fixed stop member secured to said rod between said bearings, a spring tensioned between one of said bearings and said fixed stop member, and fluid actuating means mounted on said mounting bracket and connected to said slide rod to move the same with said collar back pressing device'in one direction against the force of said spring and in an opposite direction in the direction of the force of said spring, toward and away from the molding and shaping blocks.

6. A collar back pressing mechanism for cooperative assembly with a collar molding and shaping device having a plurality of molding and shaping blocks therein mounted for movement toward and away from each other between contracted and expanded positions to engage the inner surface of a garment collar to mold and shape the same, comprising a mounting bracket, a pair of bearings secured to said mounting bracket and having aligned apertures therethrough, a slide rod mounted in said bearing members for reciprocable movement therein toward and away from the collar molding and shaping device in a path to which the paths of movement of the molding and shaping blocks in said molding and shaping device are symmetrical, a collar back pressing plate mounted on an end of said slide rod at the end thereof adjacent to said collar molding and shaping device, a fixed stop member secured to said rod between said bearings, a spring tensioned between one of said bearings and said fixed stop member, fluid actuating means mounted on said mounting bracket and connected to said slide rod to move the same with said collar back pressing device in one direction against the force of said spring and in an opposite direction in the direction of the force of said spring, toward and away from the molding and shaping blocks, and selective controllable valve means to control fluid pressure flow to said fluid pressure actuated mechanism to selectively control operation of said collar back pressing mechanism.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,829,809 Freeman Apr. 8, 1958 

